When passing through the Ploenchit BTS station; there is a group of trees that look really out of place but very appealing at the same time. There is a 5 star hotel there, called the Okura Prestige Bangkok. The Okura is a Japanese 5 star hotel chain. The one here in Bangkok which has just opened is the first one that carries the word “Prestige” at the end of its name. Which I’m pretty sure I will find out why there is the word “Prestige” after spending a couple of nights here.

The high ceiling lobby with large glass walls on the 24th floor gave me the feeling of new modern hotels in Tokyo which offers nice views of the Wireless and Ploenchit area. It is decorated with grey/brown tone materials of stone wood steel and huge sculptures, a simple but elegant space .

Our rooms were 2 Deluxe connecting rooms on the 27 floor. The rooms were very well design with efficiency in mind. The total area of the room is 47 sqm., but it seem much bigger. Entering the room there is a little space for a neat human height sculpture, a bit further there is an open bath with two sliding doors that meets at the corner. The closet is a mini built in closet; it’s about double the size of a normal one but functions much better. There is also a separate room for the toilet with a mini wash basin. Toilets here are Japanese style; warm seats, automatic wash with oscillate functions. These design elements are very appealing. The bed and the living area is a nice size, I don’t feel it is too tight for two people or even four when the kids come in (see the 360 virtual tours). The mini bar is another sample of efficient design, in small cabinet, there is a refrigerator, coffee maker, kettle, and all the accessories. With so many items in this little cabinet, I would think, it would be hard to access each item but actually it is very easily access and convenient for usage.

Apart from the usual bathrobe, after the bed turn down, on the bed there is a Japanese style bathrobe. My wife doesn’t usually wear bathrobes but the cotton was so soft she had to try it. She said it was comfortable. Along with the Egyptian cotton bed linen made the night a very restful one.

At the bed for hard sleepers, there is an envelope that contains instruction on how the fold a origami crane with some colorful papers. Attentions to details are in the Okura service; the fruit baskets are filled and are flowers changed daily.

There were 2 choices for breakfast; “UP and Above” an international buffet breakfast and “Yamazato” Japanese set breakfast. On the first day we tried the buffet breakfast, there were many items to choose from. They even have custom made Thai style omelet (ไข่เจียว). The second day we tried the Japanese style breakfast. It was set of small dishes, salmon, porridge, eggs, miso soup and variety of vegetables. A soi-base sauce that goes with the rice porridge was absolutely wonderful. It was similar to the breakfast I had at the 5 star hotels in Tokyo; simple, elegant and delicate. It is one of the most unique breakfasts in town.

The pool is on the 25th floor, it has very daring infinity edge that looks out to the Ploenchit area. Walking alongside the pool gives me the chills. It’s a thin and long pool; one of the long side is just on the edge of the building and it looks like there is nothing in between the edge and the road 25 stories down.

We also tried the afternoon tea at the Up and Above bar. There were 2 choices; the Okura traditional, a variety of scones, finger sandwiches, and pasties. It was a pretty good deal 640 baht for 2 people. The second choice was the “Okura chocolate box”; a variety of chocolate cakes and pastry. It comes in a box with drawers (750 for 2 people). Both are served with a choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Without a doubt the opening of this new hotel with the design and service quality will make Bangkok more sophisticated and definitely deserves the word “Prestige”.

Current: Editor of At-Bangkok.com, Managing Director at dp-Studio Co. Ltd.
Past: Lecturer, Instructor at School of Architecture King Mongkut University of Technology, Architect at RNL Architect, Architect at Roth Sheppard Architects
Education: School of Architecture Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand (B.Arch)
School of Architecture University of Arizona USA - School of Architecture University of Colorado, Denver USA (M. Arch)